Chapter 182
Chapter 182
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: 5×5 Battle (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Huh?”
Goetz’s musings came to an end as his awaited guests finally arrived.
“Ah, come on in. I’ve been bored all alone, and now you finally show up.”
Goetz flashed a smile with his eyes and waved his hand lightly.
Right in front of him.
Step-.
The six Blue Army members who had appeared in a group stopped at a certain distance and glared at Goetz without approaching further.
Two of them, wearing green badges, stepped forward.
“Should we call this good luck or bad?”
“Yeah, out of everyone, why did it have to be us?”
As if by prior agreement, they both wore bitter smiles.
Seeing this, a glint flashed in Goetz’s eyes.
“Oh? From the way you say that, it seems Kunter must have given you some special warning about me. Am I right?”
“Well, yeah.”
“You’re the only one in the White Army worth worrying about. Or more precisely… you’re the only one we need to worry about.”
A vigilant light entered the eyes of the two classmates as they stared at Goetz.
Goetz was a man who had made a name for himself across not just the 48th Cohort but the entire Yollam with his eccentric behavior.
It was telling that even the 50th Cohort, now nine months in, knew of Goetz before Kunter.
That pervert from the 48th Cohort, or troublemaker.
And the title of eternal second-in-command to boot.
Despite being underrated due to his infamous notoriety, no one in the 48th Cohort dared to dismiss Goetz.
Goetz Loetern.
A scion of one of the continent’s premier sword families.
Even up until his first year, he had vied for supremacy with Kunter Rider.
Everyone who knew him agreed: if not for Kunter Rider, Goetz would be Yollam’s top genius right now.
Even Kunter couldn’t afford to underestimate Goetz.
That was why he had devised a “Goetz countermeasure” for this quest and shared it with the 48th Cohort.
“So… what did Kunter say?”
At Goetz’s question, brimming with curiosity, the 48th Cohort members shrugged.
“Who knows?”
“Do we really need to tell you?”
Goetz let out a smirk at their response.
He had asked the question himself, but from their reaction, he already knew the answer without needing to hear it.
Goetz shrugged.
“Well, Kunter probably said something like this: ‘You can abandon one capture point if you have to—just tie my legs down as much as possible.’”
It was a strategy born from the certainty that pinning down Goetz alone would leave the Blue Army unhindered.
And at Goetz’s words, the two 48th Cohort members drew their swords and spoke to their juniors.
“Got it? From now on, we follow that plan. No need to force attacks. Focus on defense and evasion, and throw in some harassment now and then. That’s our goal.”
“Don’t let your guard down just because the enemy’s alone. Our opponent is Goetz Loetern. Treat him as Certified 3rd Rank.”
“No, he *is* Certified 3rd Rank without a doubt. Remember: the moment you show even a hint of an opening, you’re done!”
The 49th and 50th Cohorts swallowed dryly at the pressure and conviction in their 48th Cohort seniors’ voices.
‘My god, Certified 3rd Rank?!’
‘They said he’s second in the 48th Cohort ranks… this is no joke!’
Certified 3rd Rank was upper-tier even among fourth-years—a level where one could graduate into the lower ranks of the fifth-years right away.
He was merely overshadowed by Kunter Rider’s shadow.
Goetz had long outgrown the ordinary cohort bounds.
Whoooosh-.
The six Blue Army riders pulled up their auras fiercely, their faces tense.
Facing them, Goetz smiled and said,
“Hmm… Do you really think you lot can hold me down?”
The two 48th Cohort members glared at Goetz in response.
“You think we can’t?”
“We know your skill well, but we’re not pushovers either. Especially not against you alone.”
The two—ranked 12th and 19th in the 48th Cohort.
Both were genuine Certified 2nd Ranks who had successfully drawn their Sword Chains.
That was why they called it bad luck yet good: few teams paired top ranks like themselves.
And it was *they*, not others, who had encountered Goetz.
A head-on clash might be tough, but hit-and-run tactics? They could definitely pin him down.
Moreover, the 49th and 50th Cohorts were right behind them now.
“We’ll handle clashing with Goetz.”
“You all just provide support!”
With their juniors’ help, holding Goetz would be child’s play.
“Yes!”
“Yeah!”
“Understood!”
“We’ll do our best!”
As soon as they heard their juniors’ spirited replies, the 48th Cohort members began closing in on Goetz bit by bit.
Right then.
“Oh dear.”
Goetz sent them a peculiar smile.
And.
Fwoosh-.
Fierce flames erupted from his sword.
‘Flame Sword!’
Confirming this, the Blue Army’s tension reached its peak.
At that moment, Goetz murmured lowly.
“You all… are under some misconception.”
The rose-ornamented sword, infused with vivid crimson mana flames, aimed at them.
Simultaneously, the smile on his lips deepened.
“What makes you so sure I’m alone?”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than something sliced through the air and hurtled toward the Blue Army’s front line at tremendous speed.
‘An arrow?!’
Two arrows gleaming with an eerie light.
The two 48th Cohort members scoffed at the arrows aimed at them.
‘Just arrows!’
Few in Yollam made ranged weapons their primary arms.
This was especially true for higher years.
The reason was simple.
They were too weak.
As cohorts advanced to superhuman levels, arrows became trivial.
By the third year, one could catch them blindfolded.
Even those trained in specialized archery martial arts struggled to pierce a rider’s solid defenses.
So the 48th Cohort members ignored the incoming arrows.
They didn’t even bother swatting them—merely twisting their bodies lightly to dodge.
Unfortunately for them, those two arrows were anything but ordinary.
Glowing with a faint ivory hue.
The moment the 48th Cohort members thought they’d evaded them easily.
Shreek-.
The arrows flying through the air suddenly traced a U-turn.
A motion far transcending normal physics.
In an instant, the arrows pierced the thighs of the complacent 48th Cohort members.
Splat-.
“Guh?!”
“Ugh?!"
For a split second, the 48th Cohort members’ movements faltered.
Goetz, who had been watching intently, didn’t miss it.
Whoosh-.
In a flash, he darted between the six, beginning to weave his sword gracefully.
Each dance of the Flame Sword left crimson trails filling the space around them.
And finally, it birthed something.
Rustle-.
Something bloomed in the air.
It was none other than a vivid crimson rose.
“Ah……”
The moment the intense red rose filled their vision, the six Blue Army members forgot the situation entirely and could only gasp in admiration.
‘This is the Loetern family’s Illusion Sword…’
The pinnacle of the Illusion Sword that elevated the Loetern family to one of the continent’s top sword houses.
The instant they glimpsed its essence.
The crimson rose engulfed them.
Papat!
And.
Thud-!
All six collapsed simultaneously.
Goetz stared silently at the six who had lost consciousness without so much as a twitch, then slowly sheathed his sword.
In the meantime, someone dropped from a tall tree and approached Goetz.
“Hmm……”
Arin, who had been checking the fainted six, turned her gaze to Goetz.
“With that level of skill, why’d you even bring me along? You could’ve handled it alone.”
At her sullen tone directed at him, Goetz instead beamed brightly at Arin.
“Haha, what are you talking about? This was only possible thanks to my goddess’s aid!”
“…Doesn’t seem like it.”
“Hahaha, no way! Oh, did you see it? The crimson rose I bloomed?”
“I did.”
“Hehe… hehehe. Do you know the meaning of the crimson rose?”
“……?”
“Passionate love. Just like my feelings for you! I’ll devote these feelings to you without reserve. Will you accept them?”
Goetz extended his hand, his eyes burning with fervor.
Arin’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him.
“So that’s why you brought me? Just to show off that crap?”
At her voice laced with certainty, Goetz’s smile stiffened.
Seeing his lips tremble, Arin smirked mockingly.
“How many girls have you used that line on so far?”
“…….”
“Must’ve worked pretty well, huh? Wow, and here you are trying to flirt in the middle of all this… You’re really something, senior.”
Her tone mixed casual and formal oddly.
And under her pitying gaze, Goetz broke into a cold sweat down his back.
“I-it’s a misunderstanding.”
Goetz waved his hands, but Arin’s glare didn’t soften.
“With that kind of skill, why live like this?”
Convinced he was done for under her scolding, Goetz scratched his cheek with a face that had given up on excuses.
“Y-yeah, why do I live like this?”
“Did you mess up puberty and end up twisted?”
“Pu-puberty? T-twisted?”
Goetz blinked at the words he’d never heard in his life.
Then he burst into hollow laughter.
“Haha, maybe… With that monster standing in my way, tormenting me when I could’ve graduated early ages ago, maybe I just… wanted to go a bit twisted.”
“That monster who could’ve graduated early is tormenting you, huh……”
*What a coincidence. I know one like that.*
Arin, arms crossed, let her gaze drift toward someone far off.
Thanks to that, she could somewhat understand Goetz’s feelings and extended her arm.
Pat pat-.
“Give it up, then. It’ll be easier.”
“…Pardon?”
Goetz’s eyes widened in surprise at Arin patting his shoulder.
‘…Give up what?’
As he tilted his head in confusion, Arin’s voice came.
“That rose you showed earlier… it’s too beautiful to waste on cheap pickup lines for girls.”
With those words, Arin flashed him a bright smile.
And that smile.
‘Ah…….’
Filled Goetz’s violet pupils completely.
Thump-.
The moment his heart skipped at that clear, imprinted smile.
Rustle-.
At the sudden sound, Arin whipped around, nocking an arrow and drawing her bowstring in an instant.
Goetz had also drawn his sword, eyes sharp.
But the two soon lowered their guards.
From the direction they were wary of emerged a girl panting heavily.
She wore a white armband.
“Huff, huff-.”
The girl, who appeared gasping roughly, was a 49th Cohort member with a yellow badge.
She was also on scout duty.
“What’s wrong?”
Goetz asked the approaching, heaving girl with a pitying look.
The scout swallowed once and said,
“K-Kunter Rider……”
The moment Kunter was mentioned, Goetz’s expression hardened.
“What about him?”
“He’s… appeared at the 3-Row 5-Column capture point.”
Goetz’s eyes gleamed.
‘He’s finally made his move.’
3-Row 5-Column.
Or Zone 3-5.
That midsection of the 5th Column was precisely the capture point Yulia was responsible for.
“What’s the situation there?”
“I-I don’t know. The moment I saw my teammate get taken, I ran straight here……”
The scout’s role was to track Kunter Rider’s position, provide support if possible, or relay info to someone who could.
It was left to the scout’s discretion.
Thus, she had thought of Goetz as someone who could provide support and rushed here.
‘Full sprint from 3-5 to here at 5-4 would’ve taken less than five minutes.’
And knowing Yulia, she wouldn’t fall easily, even to Kunter.
Goetz gripped his sword tightly.
‘Then it’s not too late yet. I have to go.’
Kunter, the biggest obstacle to White Army victory, had to be pinned down by someone.
‘And the only ones who can do that… are me and White Rose Yulia.’
Alone might be tough, but together? They could hold him.
That was Goetz’s judgment.
His deliberation was long, but his action swift.
“Blue Rose, I’ll head there. You guard this capture point.”
Leaving those words, Goetz didn’t wait for Arin’s reply and dashed off at full speed.
Arin watched his rapidly receding back silently before speaking.
“Scout senior.”
“Huh… yeah?”
The scout girl turned at the voice calling her and found Arin smiling brightly.
Arin took the scout girl’s hand and lightly clapped her own palm against it.
Then she called out clearly.
“Switch!”
“Sw-switch?”
At the sudden word, the scout girl blinked.
Arin moved her feet and said,
“I’ll take scout duty from now on. You guard the capture point here, senior!”
“W-what?!”
Regardless of the scout girl’s startled cry.
Arin was already sprinting away at astonishing speed.
To meet him, who must be busier than anyone right now.
* * *
Have you ever seen lightning without sound?
A ferocious bolt that approaches like a ghost, silently devouring everything in an instant.
The phrase “silent lightning” is an oxymoron, yet that contradiction existed.
Crackle-.
Blue electricity flashed briefly, and a massive light blinded the view for a moment.
Tzzzrk-!
A thick bolt of lightning surged soundlessly from the ground, swallowing a person.
“Gah?!"
At the sound from right beside them.
And at the short scream from the comrade they’d been relying on to watch their surroundings just moments ago.
Now only three remained, their eyes filled with terror as they scanned around.
Huff- huff-.
They could feel each other’s ragged breaths.
They pressed their backs so close that they felt the cold sweat trickling down.
They had no time to feel disgust at their soaked backs.
‘W-what the hell happened?’
The three’s pupils shook as if in an earthquake.
‘What… what is this?!’
The mad lightning had struck abruptly.
The first to fall were the two 48th Cohort members.
[Gah?!]
[Ugh?!]
In an instant, their strongest two were devoured and gone.
The flustered 49th and 50th Cohort Blue Army members quickly huddled back-to-back and scanned their surroundings… but nothing changed.
The third was taken just as helplessly.
Flash-!
Another flash.
“Gup?!”
Yet another was seized by the lightning ghost.
And.
Flash-!
“……?!”
In the successive flashes, the fifth couldn’t even scream before being taken.
The last survivor, from the 50th Cohort, watched it all vividly, his face draining of color.
Swish- swish-!
“U… uuuugh!”
His face a mess of tears, he wildly swung his sword in all directions.
It was no technique—just meaningless flailing.
Even the tip of his sword trembled like an aspen leaf.
‘What, what, *what* is this… W-what the hell is going oooon!’
The final survivor, engulfed in unknown terror, couldn’t even open his mouth.
All he could do was scream a silent cry of pure fear.